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Livni retires from politics

[ssba]

Tzipi Livni, head of the Hatnua Party, announced yesterday that she was leaving politics after two decades and warned “democracy is under attack”.

The former Foreign Minister and peace negotiator said at a press conference: “I believe that my and Hatnuah’s positions are better for the State of Israel and that justice is on our side. I have the internal strength to continue fighting for what I believe in, however, I lack the political force to implement my ideology.”

She added: “Peace has become a vulgar word and democracy is under attack. Attempts to separate from the Palestinians have been replaced by notions of annexation that will lead to a Palestinian majority. The ruler has taken control of justice, and he attacks the free press, the law and legal enforcement system. I believed that all the partners in my way forward should unite around our values and work together to persuade people of the righteousness of our way – as one block and to create hope for change.”

Livni’s centrist Hatnua party will not run in the elections. Opinion polls predicted that the party would not win any seats in the next parliament.

Last night, Yesh Atid released its official Knesset list for the April election. Party leader Yair Lapid tops the list, followed by former welfare minister and Mayor of Dimona, Meir Cohen, and former Chair of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, Ofer Shelah, both of whom served in government in 2013. In fourth place is a new candidate, Orna Barbivai, the first and only woman to be appointed an IDF Major-General. She headed the IDF’s Human Resources Directorate from 2011 to 2014.

Fifth and sixth place are held by Yael German, a former Health Minister and Mayor of Herzliya, and Karine Elharrar. Ram Ben-Barak, the former deputy director of the Mossad, is in 11th place and Idan Roll, an attorney, ex-model and LGBT rights activist, is 14th on the list.

Lapid said: “We have everything – experience, knowledge, work plans, cohesion, leadership. Give us the keys and tomorrow morning we will know how to manage the country.” He didn’t rule out a possible merger with Benny Gantz’s Israel Resilience Party, but said, three days before the deadline for parties to submit Knesset lists, that: “there isn’t much time left, I haven’t been given the answers”.

Israeli media are reporting that Orly Levy-Abekasis’s Gesher party is expected to merge with Benny Gantz’s Resilience party. She is rumoured to have been offered third place on his party list and four more names in the top 20 of the combined party.